On Bonaire your own vehicle is all but essential. Public transport is virtually non-existent, taxis are expensive, and most of the best places — dive sites, Washington Slagbaai, beaches — are spread across the island. So the question isn't whether to rent a car, but which. Pickup truck or ordinary car? This guide gives you an honest answer.
Pickup truck or ordinary car?
Pickup truck (recommended)
For most visitors — divers especially — a pickup truck (often a Mahindra or Toyota) is the standard. Advantages:
- Dive gear in the open bed (drying as you drive)
- Salt water doesn't harm the load space
- A little higher than a sedan (handy on tracks)
- Real "Bonaire feeling"
Downsides: things in the bed aren't secure. Don't leave valuables behind.
Ordinary car / sedan
Cheaper, better air-con, easier parking, a secure boot.
- Good if you mainly want culture and beaches
- Not ideal for divers with gear
- Fine on all official roads — not ideal for Washington Park
4WD / Jeep
Mainly for those who want to drive the long route in Washington Slagbaai NP, or the tracks after rain. It costs more but gives freedom of movement.
The best rental companies
- AB Carrental — local, good service, reasonable prices
- Total Bonaire — larger, a wide range
- Telerent — flexible
- Achie's Car Rental — small-scale, personal
- Avis / Hertz / Budget — international chains, at the airport, often a bit pricier
Tip: local companies are often cheaper and more flexible than the international chains. Do reserve ahead — especially in high season.
What does it cost?
- Sedan / small car: $35–45 per day
- Pickup truck: $40–55 per day
- Jeep / 4WD: $60–85 per day
- Weekly rate: about 6× the daily price (one day free)
- Monthly rate: ~50% off for longer rentals
Insurance: pay attention
This is where it works differently from home. On Bonaire, rental car insurance is often not automatically all-inclusive. Read the policy carefully:
- Standard: limited liability + collision with a high excess
- Excess: often $500–1500 — higher on rough routes (WSNP)
- Tyres: usually not covered — a flat is your problem
- Underbody: often excluded
- Additional cover: +$10–15 per day, strongly recommended
Many travel insurances or credit cards offer car-rental cover. Check what's already covered — sometimes you don't need to buy anything extra.
Road rules and roads
- Drive on the right
- Speed limits: 30–40 km/h in villages, 60 km/h on main roads, 30 km/h in the Donkey Sanctuary
- Don't forget: donkeys, goats, chickens on the road — especially in the evening
- Paved vs unpaved: main roads are paved, some dive-site access roads are unpaved
- Fuel stations: Kralendijk, Hato and near the airport. Not open 24/7.
- Fuel: about $1.30 per litre (US 91 octane petrol)
What's different from home?
- No speed cameras, but there are periodic police checks
- Mobile signal drops in remote spots (the north especially)
- Road markings and signage are less consistent
- Donkeys, goats and chickens on the road are part of it
- An evening drive through Washington Park or the north: don't — no lighting
Don't forget
- International licence? On Bonaire a Dutch licence is enough (it is a special municipality of the Netherlands). Most other nationalities can drive on their national licence (usually with passport), but check with the rental company first.
- Return with a full tank — otherwise you pay a high top-up rate
- Damage report at pickup: photograph existing scratches
- Don't leave the key in the ignition — car theft does occur in Kralendijk
Parking
Free almost everywhere. No parking meters in Kralendijk. At dive sites along the yellow stones, parking is fine — don't leave valuables visible in the car. At restaurants and shops there's usually plenty of space.